by Jim Muttram

I’m not alone…

It is gratifying that quite a few of you took up my email invitation to take a look a the blog before the editor’s conference next week. It’s a shame more of you aren’t looking more regularly as I’m posting content most days…

Me too. Did you you know that the world’s oldest tourtoise – Timmy (no relation) – died last year aged 160. Apparently he was mascot in the Crimean War and was first discovered on board a Portuguese vessel in 1854.

He was found by Captain John Courtenay Everard of the Royal Navy, a relative of the 10th Earl of Devon.

He then stayed aboard a succession of naval vessels until given a life ashore in 1892 and was looked after by the members of the Courtenay family ever since.

In recent years, he wore a tag reading: “My name is Timothy. I am very old – please do not pick me up.”